EAR expert comment; European Union report on pesticide residues in food
In compliance with European Union regulations, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducts an annual assessment of pesticide residue levels in food across European markets.
In 2022, out of the 110,829 samples analysed, 96.3% contained pesticide residues below the maximum permitted level, while 3.7% exceeded this threshold, with 2.2% considered non-compliant due to surpassing the maximum residue level after factoring in measurement uncertainty. Within the EU-coordinated multiannual control program subset, 11,727 samples were tested, revealing that 0.9% were non-compliant.
EFSA also estimated dietary exposure to pesticide residues and compared it with established health-based guidance values to evaluate potential risks to consumer health, both acute and chronic. Overall, the EFSA's evaluation suggests a low risk to the health of EU consumers from pesticide residues in food. The report concludes with recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of European control systems to ensure a high level of consumer protection across the EU. You can view the Full Report here.
Our regulatory view is that, compared to the previous two year´s publications on pesticide monitoring, a notable trend emerges.
There appears to be a gradual decrease in the percentage of samples exceeding maximum residue levels, indicating improved adherence to label recommendations and potentially reflecting advancements in agricultural practices and pesticide management strategies within the EU.
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